Binding device



July 12, 1938.

c. E. EMMER BINDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 23. 1935 '1 Yak/was: CHARLES E.-Emma @M y W. 3 M

Patented July 12,1938

Charles E. Emmer, Chicago, [1]., assignor to Cercla, Inc., Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 23, 1935, SerialNo. 41,679

4 Claims. (Cl. 281-25) Thisinvention relates to binding devices.

One object of this invention is to provide a binder for perforatedsheets, pamphlets or the like, which is formed of a single piece ofsuitable material, such as sheet metal, and which can be secured inbinding relation with facility and economically by inter-engagement ofintegral portions of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a binding -devicepreferably formed of a single piece of material, having a plurality ofarms of ring form which are integral with a longitudinal strip to whichthe free ends of the arms are attached after the latter have been passedthrough perforations in the sheets, pamphlets or the like, to be bound.I

In the accompanying drawing illustrating exemplary embodiments of theinvention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the improved bindingdevice.

Figure 2 Is a perspective view illustrating a different mode of securingthe binding device in closed relation. v

Figure 3 is a further modification of the invention.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the structure of Figure 3shown in closed position. Figure 5 is a perspective view of anadditional form of binder. I

Figure 6 is a sectional view through a number of sheets bound by thedevice shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further modification.

Figure 8 is a transverse section of sheets and covers bound by thedevice shown in Figure '7.

Figure!) is apartial development of the binder.

In Figures 1 to 6 inclusive the device comprises a longitudinal stripIII from a lateral edge of which extend a plurality of parallel arms IIwhich preferably are given the ring shape shown in Figure 3, prior tothe insertion of the arms through perforations in the sheets or articlesto be bound, such as perforations I2 in the sheets I3 and covers I4,illustrated in Figure 6.

The strips III and arms II may be formed of sheet metal, or a plasticsuch as ,celluloid or other suitable material. After, the arms II havebeen passed through the perforations in the sheets to be bound, the endsIla, which are directed outwardly of the circle defined by the arms, arepressed into contact with and secured to the strip III to formpreferably a permanent binding for the sheets.

In Figure l the strip I is shownas being of a width greater than thelength of the plane ends Ila. of the arms. After insertion of the armsthrough the perforated sheets the plane ends IIa of the arms II arepressed into contact with the strip I0 and the outer margin Illa of theREISSUED FEB 6- 1 940 latter is then folded over the ends Ila to securethe arms in closed position.

In Figure Z'the corresponding parts are identified bythe same referencecharacters employed in Figure 1, the major difierence between the twoforms residing in the fact that in the form shown outer portions of theformer are folded over the edge of the latter to hold the binder inclosed position after the sheets to be bound have been assembled in thebinder.

Any suitable tool or machine may be employed for bending the margin "idof the strip overthe ends Ila. of the arms, as shown in Figure 1, or infolding the ends Ila of the strip ID as shown in Figure 2.

.-In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 the ends Ila ofthe arms 'II are provided with perforations I and the strip I0 hasintegral lugs I6 struck upwardly therefrom. The lugs are adapted to passthrough the respective perforations I5 when the sheets to be bound havebeen -assembled on the arms and the latter pressed into contact with thestrip. The lugs I4 are then bent over into contact with the uppersurface of the ends Ila to retain the latter in close contact with thestrip In as illustrated in Figure 4.

In Figures 5 and 6 the strip I0 is provided with perforations or slotsI1, and the ends of the arms have short, outward-1y directed portions IIb which terminate in portions I I0 which are disposed substantially atright angles to the portions III) as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.When the sheetshave been assembled on the arms, the ends I Ic arepassedthrough the slots I1 and bent over into-contact with the lower face ofthe strip IE] toretain the binder rings in closed position, asillustrated infull lines in Figure 5 and in Figure 6.. The end portionsHe thus function as in Figure 2 the plane ends Ila are of a length.greater than the. width of the strip I0 and the lugs, in much. the samemanner as the lugs I6 a single piece of material which in this instanceshould be resilient, the binder comprising a strip I8 having arms I9integral with one edge thereof.

The arms terminate in hooks 20 adapted to engage the inwardlyturnedhook-edge 2| of the back Hi to retain the ring-like arms I9 inclosed position after the perforated sheets or sheets and covers 22 and23 have been assembled thereon as illustrated in Figure 8.

In this. form of the invention the arms can be compressed into andreleased from engagement with the retaining edge 2|. This type ofbinding device can thus be used for temporarily bind-. ing sheets or thelike if desired. The strip l8 preferably is convex, as shown at its rearsurface and provides space for aflixing title, volume and library orother indicia, if desired:

In the forms of the invention above described, the strips l and the endsof the arms engaging the same are disposed preferably between one coverof the book and the bound sheets although these portions of the bindingmay be disposed in the middle of the book between the sheets orpositioned at the rear edge of the bound sheets, if desired. However, aneater binding is provided and the covers can be opened back to back bydisposing the strip and arm ends beneath one cover, and the assembly ofthe sheets upon the binder arms is also facilitated. For this reason thestrips I0 and the engaging ends lld'of the arms II when in contact witha cover'preferably lie in a plane parallel with the covers. The stripand interlocked ends of the arms therefore preferably lie in anon-radial plane of the circle or cylinder defined by the arms. Wherethe strip and arm ends are to lie midway of the bound sheets or are toextend rearwardly from the bound edges of the sheets they are disposedin a radial plane of the circle defined by the arms.

The arms and strips of the above described devices can be formed ofrelatively thin material such as sheet metal. In order that theringshaped arms when formed of thin material shall be sumciently rigidto retain their shape and that rough edges shall be avoided, it ispreferred to form the arm blanks with side flanges lid as illustrated inFigure 9. After the blank has been formed and prior to shaping the armsin curved or arcuate form, the flanges lid are folded inwardly of thearms as shown at the right end of the'figureto increase the rigidity orstiffness of the arm when the latter has been given the ring form. Thisdouble thickness of the metal thus increases the ability of the arms toretain their shape during use and provides smooth rounded edges at thesides of the arms which require no bufling to remove the burrs and sharpedge. The smooth rounded longitudinal edges of the arms are also moreeasily threaded through the perforations of the sheets in assembling thelatter and facilitate turning the bound sheets during use.

The various forms of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8inclusive preferably will be provided with arms formed as abovedescribed. It will be noted that the flanges lld terminate short of thefree ends of the arms so as to avoid increasing the thickness of thematerial at the points where the arms are attached to the respective'integral strips or back members.

While I have shownand described several means for attaching the ends ofthe arms to the strip which render the binding device economical andconvenient both as to manufacture and use, I do not wish to berestricted specifically thereto except as so limited by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A book of perforated sheets having a binding comprising a strip ofsheet metal having arms extending from .one' longitudinal edge portionthereof and of ring-like form extending through the perforations of thesheets, one end of each arm being integral with said longitudinal edgeand the other ends of the arms being directed outwardly from therespective ring-like portions and contacting a surface of said strip,said'strip being of a width greater than the length of said outwardlydirected ends and having the other longitudinal edge portion thereoffolded over into close contact with said ends to secure the endsbetween'said portions of thestrip to retain the rings in fully closedrelation.

2. A book of perforated sheets having a binding comprising a strip ofsheet metal having arms extending from one longitudinal edge portionthereof and of ring-like form extending through the perforations of thesheets, one end of each arm being integral with said longitudinal edgeand the other'ends of the arms being directed outwardly from therespective ring-like portions and contacting a surface of said strip,said strip being of a width greater than the length of said outwardlydirected ends and having the other longitudinal edge portion thereoffolded over into close contact with said ends to secure the ends betweensaid portions of the strip to re-' tain the rings in fully closedrelation with the ends of the curved portion of each arm insubstantially abutting relation, each said arm having integral flangeson the longitudinal edges thereof folded over a face of the arm tostiffen the same and to provide smooth edges substantially coextensivewith the curved" portion of the arm. I

3. A book of perforated sheets having a binding comprising a strip ofsheet metal having arms extending from one longitudinal edge portionthereof and of loop-like form extending through the perforations of thesheets, one end of each arm being integral with said longitudinal edgeand the other ends of the arms being directed outwardly from therespective loop-like portions and contacting a surface of said strip,said strip being of a width greater. than the length of said outwardlydirected ends and having the other longitudinal edge portion thereoffolded over into close contact with said ends to secure the ends betweensaid portions of the strip to retain the loops in fully closed relation.4. A book of perforated sheets having a bind ing comprising a strip ofsheet metal having arms extending from one longitudinal edge portionthereof and of loop-like form extending through I the perforations ofthe sheets. one end of each arm being integral with said longitudinaledge and the other ends of the arms being directed outwardly from therespectiveloop-like portions and contacting a surface of said strip saidstrip being of a width greater than the length of said outwardlydirected ends and having the other longitudinal edge portion thereoffolded over in:-

to close contact with said ends to secure the ends 1 CHARLES E.

